All about King Post Walls

King Post Walls, also known as Soldier Piles, are some of the oldest forms of retaining systems used in deep excavations. They have successfully been used since the late 18th Century in metropolitan cities like New York, Berlin, and London.

King Posts are isolated steel columns that are installed along the line of the proposed retaining wall typically at centres between 1 and 3m. The space between the posts is filled, over the retained height, using a variety of different solutions but most commonly a precast concrete panel.

And its design?

King Post Walls can be designed to Eurocode 7 or British standards and can be analysed in the temporary or permanent conditions. The design life is generally 50 years or more depending on the requirements.

How is a King Post Wall installed?

The method involves drilling a hole with a high powered CFA, large diameter or mini piling rig and then filling it with concrete and installation an H beam. This allows concrete pre-stressed panels to be inserted between the webs of the H sections, which after excavation results in the finished embedded retaining wall.

King Post Wall Illustration

King Post Wall Installation

The major advantages of King Post Walls are:
  1. King Post Walls are fast to construct
  2. They can be cheaper when compared to other retaining systems such as sheet piled and concreted piled walls
  3. King Post Wall installation is versatile and adjustments can be made in the field easily to accommodate changes
  4. They are a simple and quick installation making it a smooth transition on handing over to follow on trade
  5. King Post Walls may be used for different retention applications and heights in different ground conditions, including rock.
  6. Applications are numerous including basements, embankment retention and flood defence walls
  7.  Relatively silent and vibration free installation
  8. Procurement of locally sourced materials
  9.  Corners can be fabricated off site so that no on site hot works are required on site. This reduces risk on site as well as saving time and money
  10. Cost effective system for use in hard ground
  11. Can be tied back with Ground Anchors
  12. No spoil generated on site
  13. Piling is unaffected by ground water

To download our Project Storyboard for one of Aarsleff’s King Post Wall projects in Sheffield, please click here 

For more information about Aarsleff Ground Engineering or to send in your enquiry, call 01636 611140 and speak to a member of our expert team today, or drop us an email 

A leading UK ground engineering specialist, focusing on multi-discipline excellence and value engineering. We design and deliver some of the UK’s largest ground engineering projects.

Our vision is to bring confidence to those constructing the landscape of tomorrow .

1947. Central Jutland, Denmark. Per Aarsleff borrowed 10,000 Danish Kroner from his father’s life insurance, bought an excavator, and founded Northern Europe’s leading contracting company.

Our biggest asset, our team is composed of the leading experts in ground engineering. Working with collaboration and cohesion at the core of our business, we can guarantee a quick and founded answer to all your questions.

We recruit and reward our people based on our ‘Step into the Blue’ company culture, where we embrace the core values of Life and Health, Trust, and Responsibility.

We do everything to ensure our team and yours work safely on our sites. With our core value of Life & Health, we see safety as a cultural pillar.

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The projects that keep society running. Bridges, buildings, transit and rail facilities, embankment support, marine and offshore facilities, mines, airports, and water projects.

Keeping things turning. Sewage Treatment Works, Waste Water Treatment Works, Wind Farms and Wind Turbines, Biomass Plants, and Power stations.

Meeting society’s needs. Nursing and care homes, MOD buildings, Schools and Universities, and small or large-sized residential developments.

Staying on the move. Remediation, bridges, and foundation work are integral to keeping the industry running smoothly.

The landscape of the marketplace. Mega-retail sheds, distribution warehouses, University accommodation, and major supermarket and household name units.

Keeping things afloat. Ports and harbours, coastal defences, river embankments and inland waterways.

Technically trained estimators and a dedicated, in-house design team means we consider value-engineering at every stage of your project.

More than just a model, Visual Design & Construction is a tool to encourage collaboration and improve quality across all facets of a scheme.

From large commercial sheds to small residential plots, piling could be the foundation solution you need to support your project.

Issues around collapse, slipping or erosion? Our experts in retaining solutions have a broad portfolio of techniques designed to fix even the most nuanced of sites.

Tricky ground conditions or requirements? Aarsleff’s ground engineering team work on stabilisation through a varied range of techniques, bespoke to the properties of your site ground.

Our plant workshop offers a range of services designed to ensure your plant works for you. Whether it’s manufacturing and fabrication of equipment for long-term needs or hire so you can complete something specific.